Howard woman starts business specializing in patient advocacy

For those facing illness and the frustration of trying to navigate the medical system, Mary Heibel of Howard is launching a business to bring hope and help.

The Green Bay SCORE client, who has a masters of science in human services with an emphasis on mental health counseling and patient advocacy, knows first-hand what it is like to suffer sickness. She has spent years being prodded, misdiagnosed, and fighting for treatment.

In 2013, that led her to start an advocacy program for those with interstitial cystitis. The Facebook group, ICstrong, connected sufferers from around the world and has grown to more than 2,500 followers.

“I’ve always been the person that people come to in a crisis. Support groups can be so negative, and I have a positive attitude and like to bring some humor to the situation,” Heibel said.

She has found that her illness has brought compassion, and after finding success in helping those with interstitial cystitis, she continued to take classes that would lead to the next step — forming a business that specializes in patient advocacy. In doing research, she learned about the Patient Advocate Certification Board (PACB) and became one of only seven people in Wisconsin who have been certified by the board as advocates.

That brought her to the next step of forming a business, and when she heard about the free mentoring offered by SCORE, she went online to www.score.greenbay.org and requested counseling.

“I got a call that same day,” she said.

With help from Green Bay SCORE mentors Paul Carron and Tina Moser, she is finalizing plans for her business, The Care before the Cure, with plans to launch on Feb. 1.

“The purpose of the business is to bring advocacy efforts in navigating the overwhelming information out there and help you to make informed decisions about your health care options,” Heibel said.

She chose the name with the understanding that there needs to be better care for patients as they wait for a cure.

“Everyone is saying we need a cure for this or a cure for that, but what isn’t mentioned is that we need care while waiting for the cure,” she added.

Her target market is huge, and she sees the business as one that could be utilized by family members to help obtain the right care for a relative, insurance companies to streamline the process of care, medical professionals to assist in coordinating care, and for patients who need help in getting approval for needed medical procedures. It could also be as simple as having an advocate to provide support during appointments.

Heibel also sees an opportunity for an educational component since so many patients don’t understand the system.

“I can research their condition, review their labs, and contact the doctor’s office to see what we can do and find options that are timely, compassionate, and cost effective,” she said. “What happens when the doctor says that he or she is dropping you? I will look at options, and run interference.”

Having gone through the appeals process in order to obtain a spinal transmitter that has taken away 95% of her chronic pain, she emphasizes her practical experience.

As an advocate, the patient signs a form giving permission for her to talk to medical and insurance personnel. She plans on having an hourly rate for the patient, but the expense is small in contrast to medical costs; especially when unneeded tests are part of the process.

Her website, www.thecarebeforethecure.org, is up and she is continuing to meet with SCORE mentors during the final stages of planning. She plans on doing speaking engagements to promote advocacy and provide information on the other areas of importance such as mental health and crisis intervention.

“As health care continually changes, the need for everyone’s voice to be heard becomes more critical,” Heibel said. “I have the education and have also been the patient trying to fight for care. I want to be the best help I can and bridge the gap in communication that happens because health care is so fragmented.”

Tina Dettman-Bielefeldt is co-owner of DB Commercial Real Estate in Green Bay and Past District Director for SCORE, Wisconsin.